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BASS

INITIAL

BASS – INITIAL

At Initial you can develop a range of skills and techniques including dynamics, rhythm, syncopation and repeated notes. In the exam you’ll play a set list of three songs and demonstrate your playback or improvising skills.

You can find out more about the exam by downloading the complete Bass syllabus, or taking a look at the information below.

In your Initial exam you’ll play a set list of three songs. Two of these will be from our Initial songbook, including a technical focus (TF) song which focuses on two specific technical skills which run throughout the song, so you can demonstrate these techniques seamlessly in your performance. Your other song can be from our Initial songbook, or can be a song of your own choice, a song that you’ve written, or a cover version that you’ve arranged.

These songs are included in the Initial Bass songbook:

BOB DYLAN

All Along the Watchtower

THEM

Gloria

T. REX

Ride a White Swan

THE XX

Shelter (TF)

BEN E. KING

Stand by me (TF)

U2

With or Without You

COLDPLAY

Yellow (TF)

FLEETWOOD MAC

You Make Loving Fun

THE SONGBOOK

The Initial Bass songbook includes everything you need for your exam, including sheet music for eight songs, along with performance hints and tips and background information for each song.

For inspiration, have a listen to our Spotify playlist featuring the artist’s original versions of our Rock & Pop 2018 Bass songs for Initial to Grade 2. If you don’t already have a Spotify account, it’s free to set one up. Follow us and our playlists to easily find them again.

Develop the skills professional musicians rely on in their careers, and learn how to play music you’ve never seen or heard before or improvise over a track in the session skills part of your exam. You can choose which skill to demonstrate in your exam.

PLAYBACK

Candidates choosing this option perform some music they haven’t seen or heard before. The test consists of a series of short melodic phrases, which candidates repeat back in turn, over a backing track. See the syllabus for full requirements and graded parameters.

IMPROVISING

Candidates choosing this option improvise in a specified style over a recorded backing track that they haven’t seen or heard before. The backing track consists of a passage of music played in a loop. See the syllabus for full requirements and graded parameters.